Xellos got off the bus and sighed as he stared at the buildings around him: he hated coming here. It wasn't that that University was exactly a daunting place and the students were of a wide variety of ages, but he still felt out of place. Of course, he was; he was supposed to just be a high school student. Every time he came here he wished his mother hadn't forced him into the advanced program at his school, even if he was smart enough. All it meant was that he didn't fit in anywhere.
And it didn't matter because he was about to be late. Following the crowds of students he walked towards the Humanities building and entered the small classroom. Which was another thing, of all the classes to put him in, why was it English? They had the smallest class size in the University it just made him stand out more. Walking to the back of the classroom he set his bag down on the floor and sat down, pulling out a book and beginning to read as he waited for the teacher. Why was it University Professors could never get to their lectures on time? Just around the time most of the other students were intending to leave, the Professor walked in and the lecture began. Xellos hated this class. As far as he was concerned Professor Saillune was a naïve fool who put the most positive spin on any story. The man might even be able to turn Romeo and Juliet into an inspirational tale. It was sickening.
About fifteen minutes into the lecture the door opened and a young man with lavender hair walked into the class quietly, sliding into the empty seat in front of Xellos. He smiled, the other student's name was Zelgadiss, and he never made the lecture on time. He was the only person in the class who was consistently later that the Professor. Which was all right as far as Xellos was concerned, because the other boy always wound up in front of him, and that was a wonderful view. Very quickly he'd started to find himself paying more attention to Zelgadiss' shoulders than he did to the lecture, but he considered it a fair trade-off. At least there was SOMETHING he liked about being here.
Zelgadiss sighed as he sank into his seat and took out his notebook. He'd slept in, of course; he never made it to his first class on time even if his grandfather kicked him off the computer at a reasonable time. Which was completely annoying given the fact that he was old enough to do whatever the hell he wanted, but Rezo was his ride to the University so he guessed that gave him some grounds for complaint. Although, if Rezo didn't drop the habit he'd obtained of driving like a maniac, Zelgadiss might just reconsider that arrangement. Sure the guy was blind, but he'd gotten implants, there was no reason why he had to be that reckless.
Of course, with the content of this lecture there was no reason why he should have gotten out of bed for it anyway. This Professor was a moron, where did they get these people? He shouldn't complain though; his grandfather was on the staff at the University as well. Which reminded him, he had to go help in Rezo's lab after his classes today. Which meant that his grandfather was going to keep him there for as long as possible. Which meant that he wouldn't get back into the Realm until late. He wasn't going to get much training done today that was for certain. Even if he got there he had no guarantee that Akai would be online, in fact, she probably wouldn't be. What a gloomy outlook for his day.
He sat brooding through the whole lecture and then threw his books in his bags. His next class was across campus and he had to be there in ten minutes so he usually took off quickly. Today however, his books landed on the floor and he had to pick them up before he could leave. He got trapped at his seat as the other students in his row filled past him. Waiting impatiently he happened to glance back and found himself looking at a serious-looking boy with short purple hair. He was packing up his books slowly, which probably meant he didn't have a class after this one. Just as he was about to stand the boy looked up, caught his eye, and then blushed fiercely before looking away again. Zelgadiss smiled, that was an interesting reaction. He waited until the boy risked another glance and smiled at him, the boy's colour deepened he left the room quickly. Zelgadiss followed, slightly amused as he looked around and discovered that the purple-haired boy was gone. Too bad, he'd been pretty cute. Oh well, they were in the same class, he'd get to see him again. With a shrug he turned and headed across campus.
"You're late." Akai said in an amused tone as Tenshi entered the training school and he swore under his breath.
"Well, at least you waited."
"I had too if I didn't want to listen to you grumble tomorrow. Not that I'd deserve that; I mean, it's not my fault you keep getting your butt kicked by the most experience player in the Realm."
"Akai, please. Do you have any other ideas?"
"I think we need to improve your speed rating. The last spell didn't work because you weren't able to get your hands on him. It still might be enough to weaken him if you can actually activate it."
"What is this going to involve?"
Akai smiled evilly and Tenshi felt his spirit sink.
"Why do I come here?"
"Because this is the best school in the Realm and you know it."
"All right. Let's get started."
"That's the Tenshi I know. Don't worry, we'll have your ratings up in three days and then you can go get your butt kicked again."
"Do you have to be so happy about it?"
"Oh yeah."
Tenshi sighed and followed Akai into the inner chamber of the school once again.
Kuraku sighed as the figure in front of him began throwing a hissy fit. The girl with the pink bow and dragon's wings was not at all happy about loosing the match. Unfortunately, he didn't want to deal with it right now. He left the water ring with a cheerful wave and walked down the hallway, dodging the mace she threw at his head just before the door closed. It was getting troublesome, all the challenges and all the disruptions. There was more to the Realm than the battles, but few people ever sought anything beyond that. Oh well, their indifference meant that there were many levels that were almost deserted and right now, and that was what he wanted. Someplace quiet, someplace where he wouldn't be disturbed. There were so few places like that in his world, but in this one they were limitless.
He took himself to his favourite level, a lagoon at midnight with no moon and few stars surrounded by a thick forest of dark trees. This was his place, one of the few levels of the Realm that he'd created. He was actually glad that few others had been here, for some reason that made it all the more special, but at the same time, twice as lonely. Even in the Realm he was alone.